[Special Stock] PI Film Growth Potential in Focus... PI Advanced Materials Up Over 14%

Shares of PI Advanced Materials, a manufacturer of polyimide (PI) film, are showing strong performance. The securities industry is focusing on the sharp increase in the PI film spread (the margin between product price and cost) and the growth potential of sales for smartphone applications.

As of 11:34 a.m. on July 18, PI Advanced Materials was trading at 21,250 won, up 2,660 won (14.31%) from the previous trading day.

First, the domestic PI film spread has surged since the second quarter. The average export price last month and this month was about $40 per kilogram, marking the highest level since June 2022. Lee Dongwook, a researcher at IBK Investment & Securities, stated, "The demand for heat dissipation sheets has increased due to rising demand for on-device artificial intelligence (AI) devices." He also added, "It is estimated that domestic PI film manufacturers began additional supply of ultra-thin FPCB (flexible printed circuit board) film for new iPhone models and new domestic foldable phone models in the second quarter."

Yang Seungsoo, a researcher at Meritz Securities, said, "As demand for user convenience grows, slimming has become a key trend in smartphone hardware changes. In the future, as slim smartphone models centered on foldables expand, PI Advanced Materials' ultra-thin film will be spotlighted as a core material."